Wireless beacon devices for use in managing transportation service terminals

ABSTRACT

There are provided systems and methods for wireless beacon devices for use in managing transportation service terminals. A user may travel with a device, such as a communication device, that includes a communication module that may utilize specialized hardware features to establish short range wireless communications with nearby wireless beacons. The wireless beacons may be established at or nearby transportation service terminals, such as bus/train stops. The beacon may provide the aforementioned communication services with the communication device and be utilized to determine whether the user will utilize a transportation service for the terminal. If the user wishes to utilize the transportation service, a transportation service may be alerted. The user may also be alerted of an expected time of arrival for the transportation service, other transportation services available at the transportation terminal, and/or of nearby transportation terminals.

CROSS REFERENCE

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/543,440 filed Nov. 17, 2014, which is incorporated herein byreference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present application generally relates to wireless beacon devices foruse in managing transportation service terminals and more specificallyto placing wireless beacon devices nearby or at bus stops, trainstations, and other transportation terminals so that approachingtransportation services may be informed of people at or approaching theterminal who may utilize one of the transportation services.

BACKGROUND

Transportation services, such as buses, trains, subways, taxis, and/orother services that may offer transportation to a user between two ormore points and may utilize terminal locations where a user may visit inorder to utilize the transportation service. For example, bus stopsand/or subway stops may be located throughout a city in order to offertransportation to users in the city. Certain transportation services arerequired to stop at every terminal within a route that thetransportation service travels. Thus, the transportation service maywaste valuable time stopping at terminals where no users access orutilize the transportation service. Other transportation services maywait until a user requests use of the service at a terminal or isphysically waiting at the terminal prior to the transportation servicepicking up or responding to the users request to utilize thetransportation service. Thus, users may either miss a transportationservice while running up to a terminal or also waste valuable timewaiting for a transportation service to arrive at the terminal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a networked system suitable forimplementing the processes described herein, according to an embodiment;

FIG. 2 is an exemplary environment having a wireless beacon device at atransportation terminal for use in alerting transportation services ofusers wishing to utilize the transportation services, according to anembodiment;

FIG. 3 is an exemplary system environment having a transportation serverreceiving an alert that a user device has connected to a wireless beaconat a transportation terminal and alerting a transportation service'sdevice that a user may wish to utilize the transportation service at thetransportation terminal, according to an embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of an exemplary process for wireless beacondevices for use in managing transportation service terminals, accordingto an embodiment; and

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a computer system suitable for implementingone or more components in FIG. 1, according to an embodiment.

Embodiments of the present disclosure and their advantages are bestunderstood by referring to the detailed description that follows. Itshould be appreciated that like reference numerals are used to identifylike elements illustrated in one or more of the figures, whereinshowings therein are for purposes of illustrating embodiments of thepresent disclosure and not for purposes of limiting the same.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Provided are methods utilized with wireless beacon devices for use inmanaging transportation service terminals Systems suitable forpracticing methods of the present disclosure are also provided.

Various transportation terminal locations (e.g., bus/subway stops, trainstations, shuttle pickup locations, taxi service locations, and otherterminal locations where a user may utilize a transportation service)may provide short range wireless communications with a communicationdevice for a user, such as through beacons using Bluetooth Low Energy(BLE), LTE Direct, or other communication protocol. These beacons may beset up at the terminal location, such as at or nearby an entrance to theterminal, transportation service pickup location, and/or paymentlocation for use of the transportation service. The beacons maycommunicate with communication devices in possession of users in orderto connect to the device and determine the user is in proximity to thebeacon. The beacons may provide additional functionality, such asestablishing a connection with a transportation management device orserver to provide the transportation management device/server anotification that the user has been detected at the transportationterminal. Thus, the beacons may provide proximity detection of users atthe transportation terminal in order to determine if one or more of theusers wishes to utilize the transportation service.

Thus, these beacons at transportation terminal locations may communicatewith the communication device in possession of the user throughBluetooth Low Energy (BLE), LTE Direct, or another communicationprotocol receivable by the communication device. When establishing aconnection, the beacon may emit a communication signal including anidentifier for the beacon, the user, and/or the transportationmanagement service administering the beacons (e.g., a service provider,transportation provider, and/or town/city/airport/etc. management). Acheck-in module of the communication device may execute specializedhardware and/or software to passively monitor for the short rangewireless communications, for example, through a communication module.When the device detects the signal and verifies the one or moreidentifiers, both the device and the beacon may ramp up in power andestablish a connection, where the connection may further enable thedevice to communicate additional information to the wireless beacon,such as check-in information (e.g., an identifier) and/or other storeddata for the user and/or communication device. The beacon may beconnected to a networked device at the terminal, or the beacon mayinclude network functionality to communicate with other devices and/orservers itself.

Thus, a beacon enables the user's communication device to establish aconnection, communicate check-in or other information (e.g., anidentifier for the user and/or communication device), and/or complete acheck-in with the terminal location. The check-in may be completedautomatically when the communication device is in range of the beacon,or may be completed after prompting the user to check-in when thecommunication device is in range of the beacon. The wireless beacon(s)may be range limited to correspond to a sub-area of a transportationterminal location, such as by limiting the signal strength and/ordirectionality of the beacon and/or utilizing the physical boundaries ofthe terminal location (e.g., walls, boundaries, etc.). The sub-area maycorrespond to a ticketing/payment counter of the terminal, a walkway orboarding area/station of the terminal, an entryway for the terminal,nearby seating for use at the terminal, or other areas at or nearby theterminal. Thus, the communication device may connect to one beacon in asub-area of the terminal, multiple beacons in more than one sub-area ofthe terminal, and/or one or more beacons corresponding to the entireterminal.

Utilizing information received from the one or more beacons connected tothe communication device, a transportation device/server managing thetransportation services that utilize the terminal may determine that auser at the terminal wishes to utilize one of the transportationservices (e.g., a bus, subway, train, taxi, shuttle, etc.). For example,based on an amount of time the communication device stays connected tothe beacon(s), the transportation device/server may determine that theuser in possession of the communication device is waiting for atransportation service. Moreover, the beacon(s) may receive informationabout a schedule/calendar, travel route, past history of transportationservice use, or purchased fare for a transportation route from thecommunication device. Utilizing more than one beacon connection with thecommunication, the device/server may also determine that the user isapproaching a boarding platform, ramp, stairway, or other area in orderto access the transportation service. The transportation device/serverreceives the connection information from the wireless beacon(s)utilizing a communication module and stores the connection informationto a non-transitory memory of the transportation device/server. Thetransportation device/server may then utilize the aforementionedinformation to determine that the user may wish to access and utilizethe transportation service for travel.

Once the transportation device/server has determined that the userwishes to utilize a transportation service, the device/server may alertthe transportation service through a device associated with thetransportation service (e.g., a GPS module, radio unit, or other devicein communication with the transportation device/server). Thetransportation device/server may alert the transportation service that auser is waiting at a specified transportation terminal so that thetransportation service may pick up the user for travel. Thetransportation service may be alerted of the user's identity, image,destination endpoint, schedule/calendar, travel route, and/orpre-purchased fare. Similarly, the user may be alerted of a time untilarrival of the transportation service and an identity of thetransportation service (e.g., bus/car/subway number). The transportationservice may also be alerted of the transportation terminal's location,such as on a map, so that the transportation service may service theuser. Still further, the transportation service may be alerted of anumber of users at the transportation terminal (e.g., through otherconnections between wireless beacon(s) and communication device(s)) sothat the transportation service may determine whether the transportationservice may pick up all users, or if another transportation servicewould be required. If the transportation service is at or near maximumcapacity, the transportation device/server may be alerted (e.g., fromthe transportation service, through a number of users connected to awireless beacon associated with the transportation services, and/orthrough a number of purchased fares or users accessing thetransportation service). Thus, the transportation device/server mayalert a second transportation service serving the transportationterminal that one or more of the users may be picked up. If thetransportation device/server is required to alert the secondtransportation service, the user may be alerted of the delay and thetime until arrival of a next transportation service. The user may alsobe alerted of nearby transportation terminals that the user may utilizeto access the same or similar transportation services.

In various embodiments, the transportation device/server may assist aplurality of transportation services all having separate routes, such asa bus system within a city. Thus, a transportation terminal may havemultiple transportation services that each take their travelers ondifferent routes to destination endpoints. In order to determine whichof the transportation services a user is utilizing, the transportationdevice/server may utilize a schedule/calendar of the user received fromthe communication device, purchased fare of the user, and/or a priortravel history and times of travel for the user. Thus, thetransportation device/server may alert the correct transportationservice using the aforementioned information. The transportationdevice/server may also request confirmation from the user through thecommunication device that the alerted transportation service is correct.If the user wishes to travel on a different transportation service, theuser may utilize the communication device to make a different selection.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a networked system 100 suitable forimplementing the processes described herein, according to an embodiment.As shown, system 100 may comprise or implement a plurality of devices,servers, and/or software components that operate to perform variousmethodologies in accordance with the described embodiments. Exemplarydevice and servers may include device, stand-alone, and enterprise-classservers, operating an OS such as a MICROSOFT® OS, a UNIX® OS, a LINUX®OS, or other suitable device and/or server based OS. It can beappreciated that the devices and/or servers illustrated in FIG. 1 may bedeployed in other ways and that the operations performed and/or theservices provided by such devices and/or servers may be combined orseparated for a given embodiment and may be performed by a greaternumber or fewer number of devices and/or servers. One or more devicesand/or servers may be operated and/or maintained by the same ordifferent entities.

System 100 includes a user 102, a user device 110, a transportationterminal 120 having wireless beacons 122, a transportation server 130,and a transportation device 140 in communication over a network 150.User 102 may visit transportation terminal 120 in order to access atransportation service. One or more of wireless beacons 122 may connectwith user device 110 when user 102 is in proximity to transportationterminal 120. Transportation server 130 may determine that user 102wishes to utilize the transportation service associated withtransportation terminal 120 using wireless beacons 122. Transportationserver 130 may then alert the transportation service throughtransportation device 140 that is associated with the transportationservice.

User device 110, transportation terminal 120, wireless beacons 122,transportation server 130, and transportation device 140 may eachinclude one or more processors, memories, and other appropriatecomponents for executing instructions such as program code and/or datastored on one or more computer readable mediums to implement the variousapplications, data, and steps described herein. For example, suchinstructions may be stored in one or more computer readable media suchas memories or data storage devices internal and/or external to variouscomponents of system 100, and/or accessible over network 150.

User device 110 may be implemented as a communication device that mayutilize appropriate hardware and software configured for wired and/orwireless communication with wireless beacons 122, transportation server130, and/or transportation device 140. For example, in one embodiment,user device 110 may be implemented as a personal computer (PC), a smartphone, laptop/tablet computer, wristwatch with appropriate computerhardware resources, eyeglasses with appropriate computer hardware (e.g.GOOGLE GLASS®), other type of wearable computing device, and/or othertypes of computing devices capable of transmitting and/or receivingdata, such as an IPAD® from APPLE®. Although a user device is shown, theuser device may be managed or controlled by any suitable processingdevice. Although only one user device is shown, a plurality of userdevices may function similarly.

User device 110 of FIG. 1 contains a check-in module 112, otherapplications 114, a database 116, and a communication module 118.Check-in module 112 and other applications 114 may correspond toexecutable processes, procedures, and/or applications with associatedhardware. In other embodiments, user device 110 may include additionalor different hardware and software as required.

Check-in module 112 may correspond to one or more processes to executemodules and associated devices of user device 110 to establish aconnection with one or more of wireless beacons 122, including acheck-in with transportation terminal 120 and/or a sub-area oftransportation terminal 120. In this regard, check-in module 112 maycorrespond to specialized hardware and/or software utilized by userdevice 110 with wireless beacons 122 to establish a connection andcomplete a check-in. Check-in module 112 may then provide user 102information about available transportation services available attransportation terminal 120 and/or alert at least one transportationservice of the arrival of user 102. A connection by check-in module 112with one or more of wireless beacons 122 may provide and/or verify theidentity of user 102, including transmission of an identifier for user102 and/or user device 110. Thus, check-in information may beestablished when a connection is made by check-in module 112 with one ormore of wireless beacons 122 that includes one or more identifiers.

In various embodiments, check-in module 112 receives short rangewireless communications from one or more of wireless beacons 122 throughcommunication module 118 at transportation terminal 120 and transmitsinformation to wireless beacons 122, including check-in information fora check-in process that associates user 102 with the one or more ofwireless beacons 122 connected with user device 110. For example,wireless beacons 122 may be located at and throughout transportationterminal 120 and set up to communicate with user device 110 when userdevice 110 is in proximity to wireless beacons 122. For example,wireless beacons 122 may correspond to a single wireless beaconassociated with all of transportation terminal 120. Wireless beacons 122may also correspond to a sub-location/area of transportation terminal120 (e.g., at an entrance or walkway leading up to transportationterminal 120, at a payment counter/machine/turnstile for transportationfare at transportation terminal 120, at an access ramp/stairs attransportation terminal 120, etc.). Thus, wireless beacons 122 may berange limited to connect only with devices (e.g., user device 110)within the specified area, such as a radius around wireless beacons 122,a distance away from wireless beacons 122, and/or a signal direction forwireless beacons 122. When user device 110 enters the proximity radiusfor one or more of wireless beacons 122, user device 110 and the one ormore of wireless beacons 122 may connect and check-in informationincluding an identifier for user 102 and/or user device 110 may betransmitted to the connected beacons of wireless beacons 122.

Check-in module 112 may execute in the background of an operating systemof user device 110 and be configured to establish connections, usingcommunication module 118 of user device 110, with one or more ofwireless beacons 122. The connection may be established with or withoutuser input from user 102. For example, wireless beacons 122 maybroadcast a token, such as a universally unique identifier (UUID), forreception by check-in module 112, as will be explained in more detailherein. Check-in module 112 may utilize communication module 118 of userdevice 110 to receive the token from wireless beacons 122. If check-inmodule 112 acknowledges the UUID as identifying transportation terminal120, wireless beacons 122, transportation server 130, and/ortransportation device 140 (e.g., if check-in module 112 determines theUUID corresponds to a request to establish a communication channeland/or process and complete a check-in), check-in module 112 maytransmit an identifier corresponding to user 102 and/or user device 110back to wireless beacons 122. Check-in module 112 may utilizecommunication module 118 of user device 110 to communicate with wirelessbeacons 122 (e.g., over near field communication, Bluetooth, BluetoothLow Energy, radio, infrared, LTE Direct, or other communicationprotocol). The identifier from user device 110 may include, betransmitted with, concatenated with, or otherwise bundled with theidentifier received from wireless beacons 122. Thus, wireless beacons122 may identify the communication as associated with a connectionrequest by wireless beacons 122. In other embodiments, differentinformation may be transmitted to wireless beacons 122, such as anidentifier for user 102, a name or other personal information for user102, or other identifying information. Thus, the information transmittedto wireless beacons 122 does not need to be utilized to process and/orcomplete a check-in in all embodiments.

Once a connection is established with wireless beacons 122, the processmay associate user 102 with the one or more of wireless beacons 122 usedto connect to user device 110. For example, wireless beacons 122 mayprevious be registered as located at or nearby a specific area withintransportation terminal 120 (e.g., at an entrance or walkway leading upto transportation terminal 120, at a payment counter/machine/turnstilefor transportation fare at transportation terminal 120, at an accessramp/stairs at transportation terminal 120, etc.). Once user device 110connects to one or more of wireless beacons 122, the check-in/connectioninformation (e.g., the check-in information including an identifier andinformation for the check-in, such as the beacon(s) of wireless beacons122 that user device 110 is connected to) may be transmitted totransportation server 130. Transportation server 130 may process thecheck-in information to determine if user 102 will utilize atransportation service available at transportation terminal 120, as willbe explained in more detail herein. Transportation server 130 mayfurther determine which transportation service user 102 will utilize, anavailability of the transportation service, similar transportationservices usable by user 102, and/or similar transportation terminalsusable by user 102. As previously discussed, in other embodiments, acheck-in need not be processed and/or completed to associate user 102with the areas of the terminal. Thus, other connections and datatransfers to wireless beacons 122 may be sufficient to associate user102 with transportation terminal 120.

Once a connection is established with wireless beacons 122 by check-inmodule 112, check-in module 112 may be utilized to transmit furtherinformation to wireless beacons 122 for use by transportation server 130in determining user 102 whether user 102 will utilize a transportationservice, what transportation service/route/timeline is required by user102, and/or other transportation services/terminals are usable by user102, as will be explained in more detail herein. For example, check-inmodule 112 may access information stored to database 116, such as userpersonal information (e.g., an address for a work, home, friend, family,etc., a calendar/schedule of user 102, a travel route for user 102(e.g., a route entered to a mapping application of user device 110),past travel history for user 102, and/or purchased fare for atransportation service). Such information may be transmitted totransportation server 130 for processing and/or previously stored bytransportation server 130. Check-in module 112 may also interface withone or more APIs for applications and/or modules executed by user device110 to retrieve such information. Check-in module 112 may also receiveinformation from wireless beacons 122 and/or transportation server 130.Received information may correspond to a name/identifier of atransportation service that has been flagged for usage by user 102, anexpected time for arrival for one or more transportation services, acapacity limit and/or current occupancy of a transportation service, asimilar transportation service serving the same or similar route foruser 102, and/or a nearby or similar transportation terminal for use byuser 102. Such information may be presented to user 102 through a deviceinterface of user device 102, and may allow user 102 to selectadditional information. For example, user 102 may request a differenttransportation service, purchase fare for a transportation service,and/or view a map to a transportation service in transportation terminal120 or a nearby transportation terminal.

In various embodiments, user device 110 includes other applications 114as may be desired in particular embodiments to provide features to userdevice 110. For example, other applications 114 may include securityapplications for implementing client-side security features,programmatic client applications for interfacing with appropriateapplication programming interfaces (APIs) over network 150, or othertypes of applications. Other applications 114 may also include email,texting, voice and IM applications that allow a user to send and receiveemails, calls, texts, and other notifications through network 150. Invarious embodiments, other applications 114 may include financialapplications, such as banking, online payments, money transfer, or otherapplications associated with a payment provider. As previouslydiscussed, other applications may include mapping applications, forexample, through a GPS module that may identify user 102 at a locationand/or calendaring/scheduling applications, which may be utilized todetermine a service provider user 102 may utilize. Other applications114 may include device interfaces and other display modules that mayreceive input from user 102 and/or output information to user 102. Forexample, other applications 114 may contain software programs,executable by a processor, including a graphical user interface (GUI)configured to provide an interface to the user.

User device 110 may further include database 116 stored to a transitoryand/or non-transitory memory of user device 110, which may store variousapplications and data and be utilized during execution of variousmodules of user device 110. Thus, database 116 may include, for example,identifiers such as operating system registry entries, cookiesassociated with check-in module 112 and/or other applications 114,identifiers associated with hardware of user device 110, or otherappropriate identifiers, such as identifiers used forpayment/user/device authentication or identification. Database 116 mayinclude scheduling information, travel route information, calendaringinformation, personal information, purchase travel fare on atransportation service, and/or previous usage histories of one or moretransportation service. Furthermore, database 116 may further includereceived information from transportation server 130, for example,locations and/or maps to transportation services within transportationterminal 120 or a nearby transportation terminal, time for arrival oftransportation services, and/or transportation services information(e.g., name, number, etc.).

User device 110 includes at least one communication module 118 adaptedto communicate with wireless beacons 122, transportation server 130,and/or transportation device 140. In various embodiments, communicationmodule 118 may include a DSL (e.g., Digital Subscriber Line) modem, aPSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) modem, an Ethernet device, abroadband device, a satellite device and/or various other types of wiredand/or wireless network communication devices including microwave, radiofrequency, infrared, Bluetooth, and near field communication devices.Communication module 118 may communicate directly with wireless beacons122 using short range communications, such as Bluetooth Low Energy, LTEDirect, WiFi, radio frequency, infrared, Bluetooth, and near fieldcommunications.

Transportation terminal 120 may correspond to a physical location wherea user may access transportation services in order to travel between twoor more locations. For example, transportation terminal 120 maycorrespond to a bus stop or station, a train or subway station, ataxi/car/shuttle service pickup location, a boat dock or pier station,or other location where a transportation service may provide a vehiclefor transportation to user 102. Transportation terminal 120 may includefurther specialized software and/or hardware than displayed inenvironment 100, such as schedule announcement systems and/or farepayment systems. Transportation terminal 120 further includes wirelessbeacons utilized to provide transportation service management utilizingconnections with communication devices. Thus, transportation terminal120 includes wireless beacons 122. Transportation terminal 120 may alsoinclude communication modules and/or network interface componentsconfigured to communication with user device 110, transportation server130, and/or transportation device 140 directly and/or over network 150.

Wireless beacons 122 may be maintained, for example, by a serviceprovider, transportation provider, town/city planner, or other entityproviding management of one or more transportation services. Wirelessbeacons 122 may be implemented using any appropriate hardware andsoftware configured for wireless communication with user device 110,transportation server 130, and/or transportation device 140. Forexample, in one embodiment, wireless beacons 122 may be implemented as adongle device including a hardware processor and a communication module,for example, connected to a device at transportation terminal 120 (e.g.,a computing device having specialized hardware and/or software formanagement of transportation services). Wireless beacons 122 may also beimplemented as a device incorporated within a personal computer (PC), asmart phone, laptop computer, and/or other types of computing devicescapable of transmitting and/or receiving data, such as an IPAD® fromAPPLE®. Wireless beacons 122 may also act as a stand-alone deviceincluding a processor, communication module, and/or network interfacecomponent configured to communicate with user device 110, transportationserver 130, and/or transportation device 140. Although a plurality ofwireless beacons are described, a single wireless beacon may be utilizedat the transportation terminal.

Wireless beacons 122 may be located at and throughout transportationterminal 120, including sub-areas of transportation terminal 120.Wireless beacons 122 of FIG. 1 contains processes, procedures, and/orapplications, for example, a software program, executable by a hardwareprocessor configured to interact with user device 110, transportationserver 130, and/or transportation device 140. Thus, regardless of theimplementation of wireless beacons 122, as discussed above, each ofwireless beacons 122 utilize a check-in module 124 and a communicationmodule 126. Check-in module 124 may correspond to executable processes,procedures, and/or applications with associated hardware. In otherembodiments, wireless beacons 122 may include additional or differentsoftware and devices as required.

Check-in module 124 may correspond to an executable module havingspecialized hardware and/or software features for transmitting requeststo establish a connection between a device (e.g., user device 110) andone of wireless beacons 122 transmitting the request to establish theconnection. Thus, wireless beacons 122 may utilize short range wirelesscommunications of wireless beacons 122 to transmit the requests toestablish a connection, including an identifier such as a UniversallyUnique Identifier (UUID). If user device 110 receives a request toestablish the connection with wireless beacons 122 and responds with auser device identifier (potentially including the UUID and otherinformation necessary to effectuate a check-in of user device 110),check-in module 124 may cause wireless beacons 122 to ramp up in powerand create a connection between user device 110 and wireless beacons122.

Each of wireless beacons 122 may transmit the request to establish theconnection with wireless beacons 122 as a short range wirelesscommunication (e.g. a BLE protocol communication) including a “wake up”process for check-in module 112 of user device 110 and/or a token forwireless beacons 122. In other embodiments, the request and/orconnection may utilize near field communication, radio communication,infrared communication, Bluetooth communication, or WiFi communication.Additionally, although wireless beacons 122 may utilize BLE protocolcommunications to effectuate an “always on” type service where the UUIDand “wake up” process are transmitted continuously, other communicationprotocols used to provide an “always on” service may include QUALCOMM®LTE Direct or similar device-to-device communication technology. BLE andLTE Direct may both be utilized to provide discovery of nearby devicesto wireless beacons 122 (e.g., user device 110) and establishment of aconnection for data transfers.

The request may be specific to user device 110 by including informationthat is specific to user 102, such as a name, identifier, or user deviceidentifier. The information specific to user 102 may be determined froma user account of user 102 or other information previously provided totransportation server 130. Thus, in certain embodiments, only userdevice 110 will pick up and authenticate the request. After check-inmodule 124 receives a user device identifier from user device 110,check-in module 124 may determine user 102 is in proximity to the beaconof wireless beacons 122 connected to user device 110. The beacon ofwireless beacons 122 that connected to user device 110 may pass the userdevice identifier to transportation server 130 using check-in module124. Thus, transportation server 130 may determine user device 110 is inproximity to the one or more of wireless beacons 122 connected to userdevice 110 through the connection between user device 110 and theconnected beacon of wireless beacons 122, as will be discussed in moredetail herein. As shown in FIG. 1, wireless beacons 122 may utilizecommunication module 126 of one of wireless beacons 122 to pass theidentifier to transportation server 130. Additionally, check-in module124 may cause wireless beacons 122 to keep a communication channel openwith user device 110 for passing additional information between userdevice 110 and transportation server 130.

Check-in module 124 may also be utilized to request, retrieve, and/orreceive information from user device 110 about user 102. For example,once a connection is established between user device 110 and one or moreof wireless beacons 122, check-in module 124 may pull/receive/scrapeinformation from user device 110, such travel routes, calendarinformation, personal information, purchased transportation servicefare, prior travel on one or more transportation services, and/orpreferred transportation services stored to database 116 of user device110. Check-in module 124 may also transmit information to user device110, such as a name/identifier of a transportation service that has beenflagged for usage by user 102, an expected time for arrival for one ormore transportation services, a capacity limit and/or current occupancyof a transportation service, a similar transportation service servingthe same or similar route for user 102, and/or a nearby or similartransportation terminal for use by user 102. Requests generated by user102 using user device 110 (e.g., requests for a schedule or flagging ofa different transportation service and/or requests to purchase orreserve fare for a transportation service) may also be passed totransportation server 130 through wireless beacons 122 or directly byuser device 110 using network 150.

In various embodiments, each of wireless beacons 122 include at leastone communication module 126 adapted to communicate with user device110, transportation server 130, and/or transportation device 140.Communication module 126 may include a DSL (e.g., Digital SubscriberLine) modem, a PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) modem, anEthernet device, a broadband device, a satellite device and/or variousother types of wired and/or wireless network communication devicesincluding microwave, radio frequency, infrared, Bluetooth, and nearfield communication devices. Communication module 126 may communicatewith user device 110 using short range communications, such as radiofrequency, infrared, Bluetooth, and near field communications.

Transportation server 130 may be maintained, for example, by a serviceprovider, which may provide management of transportation service, forexample, as a transportation provider, town/city management, or otherservice provider. Transportation server 130 includes one or moreprocessing applications which may be configured to interact with userdevice 110, wireless beacons 122, and/or transportation device 140 toprovide transportation management services to user 102 and atransportation service associated with transportation device 140.Although only one server is shown, a plurality of servers and/or devicesmay function similarly. Although transportation server 130 is describedas a server device, in various embodiments, transportation server 130may function as a specialized device local to transportation terminal120. Thus, in certain embodiments, transportation server 130 maycommunicate through wired or short range wireless communication withwireless beacons 122 to determine usage of transportation services byuser 102 and flagging of a transportation service associated withtransportation device 140. Furthermore, although transportation server130 is shown as separate from transportation device 140, the belowdescribed modules, hardware, and functions may be included within onedevice/entity, such as one local to transportation terminal 120 orembodied as transportation device 140.

Transportation server 130 of FIG. 1 includes a terminal informationprocessing module 132, other applications 134, a database 136, and acommunication module 138. Terminal information processing module 132 andother applications 134 may correspond to executable processes,procedures, and/or applications with associated hardware. In otherembodiments, transportation server 130 may include additional ordifferent hardware and software as required.

Terminal information processing module 132 may correspond to one or moreprocesses to execute modules and associated devices of transportationserver 130 to determine a transportation service for use by user 102using connections established by one or more of wireless beacons 122with user device 110 and alert the transportation service of user 102required usage at transportation terminal 120. In this regard, terminalinformation processing module 132 may correspond to specialized hardwareand/or software utilized by transportation server 130 with wirelessbeacons 122 to receive check-in information (e.g., a communicationdevice identifier for user device 110) including one or more connectionsbetween user device 110 and one or more of wireless beacons 122. Thus,the check-in information may include an identifier used foridentification of user 102 and/or user device 110. Terminal informationprocessing module 132 may utilize communication module 138 to receivethe check-in information and store the check-in information to database136 in a non-transitory memory of transportation server 130. Theconnection(s) between user device 110 and one or more of wirelessbeacons 122 may further include information identifying the connectedbeacon(s) of wireless beacons 122 that may be utilized by terminalinformation processing module 132 to determine which of wireless beacons122 are connected to user device 110 and the locations of those beacons.Utilizing such information about transportation terminal 120 and/orsub-areas of transportation terminal 120 that user 102 has been detectedin proximity to, a transportation service that user 102 may utilize attransportation terminal 120 may be determined. For example, throughconnections to wireless beacons 122, a position for user 102 may bedetermined and/or triangulated. Further, through additional connectionsestablished and ended between wireless beacons 122, a path that user 102is travelling may be determined, such walking to a boarding ramp orpayment station. Still further, a time or approximate time that user 102has been located at transportation terminal 120 may be determined. Thus,terminal information processing module 132 may exclude users that areonly quickly passing by or through transportation terminal 120. If user102 is determined to be waiting at transportation terminal 120 based onlocation, path, and/or time information, terminal information processingmodule 132 may determine that user 102 wishes to access/utilize atransportation service available at transportation terminal 120.

Terminal information processing module 132 may receive the connectioninformation from wireless beacons 122 in order to determine whether user102 wishes to utilize a transportation service. Terminal informationprocessing module 132 may further determine whether user 102 may utilizea transportation service available at transportation terminal 120 usinginformation available about user 102, for example, information receivedfrom user device 110 and/or previous stored to database 136. Thus, onceuser device 110 connects to one or more of wireless beacons 122,information about the user device may be accessed, received, and/orretrieved by the beacon(s), as previously discussed. Such informationmay include travel routes, calendar information, personal information,purchased transportation service fare, prior travel on one or moretransportation services, and/or preferred transportation services storedto database 116 of user device 110 or utilized by another application ormodule of user device 110. Terminal information processing module 132may determine that user 102 will utilize a transportation service usingthe aforementioned information. In various embodiments, terminalinformation processing module 132 may further determine whichtransportation service should be used (e.g., a type of transportationservice, a name of a transportation service, a number of thetransportation service, a transportation service associated with aspecific route for user 102, and/or time of arrival of a transportationservice). Using the information determined about the transportationservice for user by user 102, terminal information processing module 132may generate an alert for the transportation service and alert thetransportation service that user 102 requires transportation attransportation terminal 120, for example, through transportation device140. For example, terminal information processing module 132 may accessinformation about transportation services and routes for thetransportation service from database 136. The transportation servicesinformation may include information about schedules, travel routes, andtransportation service identification. Terminal information processingmodule 132 may utilize the transportation services information todetermine the transportation service to alert of required use by user102. The alert may display information for user 102 on transportationdevice 140, a location for user 102 and/or transportation terminal 120,other associated users wishing to utilize the transportation service attransportation terminal 120, fare payments by user 102 and/or otherusers, and/or other information determined by terminal informationprocessing module 132.

In various embodiments, terminal information processing module 132 mayreceive information about the transportation service associated withtransportation device 140 that user 102 wishes to utilize and/ortransportation terminal 120. For example, terminal informationprocessing module 132 may receive a notification from transportationdevice 140 (e.g., input by a driver, conductor, or other entitycontrolling the transportation service associated with transportationdevice 140) that indicates the transportation service associated withtransportation device 140 is reaching or at maximum occupancy. Suchinformation may be sent to transportation server 130 when close to or atmaximum occupancy, at various time intervals, or when transportationdevice 140 receives the above described notification to server user 102at transportation terminal 120. In such embodiments, terminalinformation processing module 132 may utilize the transportationservices information about transportation services servingtransportation terminal 120 to determine another transportation servicethat user 102 may utilize at transportation terminal 120. For example, asecond bus travelling the required route by user 102 may be 10 minutesbehind a first bus currently at transportation terminal 120 but atmaximum capacity. Thus, terminal information processing module 132 mayalert the second bus that user 102 will still require service when thesecond bus approaches transportation terminal 120. Of course, if user102 chooses to leave transportation terminal 120 and/or board the firstbus because there is room or a passenger departed at transportationterminal 120, the alert may be revoked by terminal informationprocessing module 132.

Terminal information processing module 132 may provide information touser device 110 and/or transportation device 140. As previouslydiscussed, information provided to transportation device 140 may includethe alert that user 102 is waiting for the transportation serviceassociated with transportation device 140 at transportation terminal120, as well as information for identifying user 102 and/or allowinguser 102 to board the transportation service (e.g., a name, image, otheridentifier, purchased fare, reserved fare and price to charge,destination endpoint, etc.). Similarly, user 102 may be provided,through user device 110, information about the transportation service,such as a name, number, other identifier, travel route, stop/endpoints,cost of fare and option to purchase fare, capacity and currentoccupancy, estimated time to arrival, location including a mapcoordinate or location (e.g., visible through a mapping application ofuser device 110), additional transportation services serving the sameroute for the user and their expected time of arrival, and/or othertransportation terminals where the user may access and/or depart thetransportation service. For example, user 102 may be alerted as user 102is approaching or paying for fare at transportation terminal 120 thatthe estimated time to arrival or wait time for the transportationservice may mean that user 102 may miss the transportation service. Inother embodiments, the transportation service may be at maximumcapacity. Thus, the user may visit another transportation terminal ormay wait for another transportation service using the informationprovided by terminal information processing module 132.

Terminal information processing module 132 may also receive informationfrom user device 110. For example, terminal information processingmodule 132 may receive a notification that the transportation servicethat terminal information processing module 132 has alerted for user 102is incorrect based on a different travel route user 102 wishes totravel. User 102 may utilize an input device 110 with check-in module132 to make a selection of another transportation service required byuser 102. Thus, terminal information processing module 132 may insteadgenerate a notification/alert for the requested transportation serviceand may assist user 102 with the requested transportation service asdiscussed above. Furthermore, terminal information processing module 132may receive a payment request for a fare payment from user device 110.Terminal information processing module 132 may process the paymentrequest, for example, using a payment provider, and provider a receipthaving information used by the transportation service and/ortransportation terminal 120 to provide admittance for user 102.

In various embodiments, transportation server 130 includes otherapplications 134 as may be desired in particular embodiments to providefeatures to transportation server 130. For example, other applications134 may include security applications for implementing server-sidesecurity features, programmatic server applications for interfacing withappropriate application programming interfaces (APIs) over network 150,or other types of applications. Other applications 134 may containsoftware programs, executable by a processor, including a graphical userinterface (GUI), configured to provide an interface to a user.

Additionally, transportation server 130 includes database 136. Invarious embodiments, transportation server 130 allow user 102 toestablish user accounts with transportation server 130 that may includeuser information. For example, a transportation provider, town, city, orother service provider may allow user 102 to establish a user account oruser information in database 136 that may be utilized when user device110 connects to one or more of wireless beacons 122. Database 136 mayfurther include check-in information having connections between userdevice 110 and one or more of wireless beacons 122, as well asinformation received from user device 110. Database 136 may informationabout transportation services serving transportation terminal 120, suchas identification information, pricing, schedules, travel routes, and/oroccupancy. Transportation server may further store information user withthe transportation services, such as notifications transmitted totransportation device 140, requests from user device 110, etc.

In various embodiments, transportation server 130 includes at least onecommunication module 138 adapted to communicate user device 110,wireless beacons 122, and/or transportation device 140 over network 150.Communication module 138 may include a DSL (e.g., Digital SubscriberLine) modem, a PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) modem, anEthernet device, a broadband device, a satellite device and/or variousother types of wired and/or wireless network communication devicesincluding microwave, radio frequency, infrared, Bluetooth, and nearfield communication devices. Communication module 138 may communicatewith wireless beacons 122 and/or transportation device 140 using shortrange communications, such as radio frequency, infrared, Bluetooth, andnear field communications where transportation server 130 may be localto transportation terminal 120 or transportation device 140.

Transportation device 140 may be implemented as a communication devicethat may utilize appropriate hardware and software configured for wiredand/or wireless communication with user device 110, wireless beacons122, and/or transportation server 130. Transportation device 140 may belocated locally to a transportation service, such as attached to atransportation service and visible or audible by a driver, conductor, orother administrator associated with the transportation service or inpossession of the administrator. For example, in one embodiment,transportation device 140 may be implemented as a personal computer(PC), a smart phone, laptop/tablet computer, wristwatch with appropriatecomputer hardware resources, eyeglasses with appropriate computerhardware (e.g. GOGGLE GLASS®), other type of wearable computing device,display device include processing components, heads up display device,vehicle dashboard or console device, and/or other types of computingdevices capable of transmitting and/or receiving data, such as an IPAD®from APPLE®. Although a transportation device is shown, thetransportation device may be managed or controlled by any suitableprocessing device. Although only one transportation device is shown, aplurality of transportation devices may function similarly.

Transportation device 140 of FIG. 1 contains a transportation routemodule 142, other applications 144, a database 146, and a communicationmodule 148. Transportation route module 142 and other applications 144may correspond to executable processes, procedures, and/or applicationswith associated hardware. In other embodiments, transportation device140 may include additional or different hardware and software asrequired.

Transportation route module 142 may correspond to one or more processesto execute modules and associated devices of transportation device 140to receive information from transportation server 130 and display suchinformation for use with a transportation service associated withtransportation device 140. In this regard, transportation route module142 may correspond to specialized hardware and/or software utilized bytransportation device 140 with received information to display suchalerts to an administrator of the transportation service. Transportationroute module 142 may receive a notification and/or alert that user 102is waiting at transportation terminal 120 and/or requires usage of thetransportation service at transportation terminal 120. Such informationmay be displayed on an output device interface of transportation device120. Transportation route module 142 may display the information as atext or audible alert or may display a map or direction fortransportation terminal 120. Transportation route module 142 may furtherdisplay information about user 102 as well as information abouttransportation terminal 120, such as other users requiring usage of thetransportation service at transportation terminal 120. Transportationroute module 142 may further display information about othertransportation terminals and the required passengers at eachtransportation terminal. The administrator may utilize transportationroute module 142 to communicate notifications to transportation server130, such as notifications that the transportation service is at orreaching maximum occupancy.

In various embodiments, transportation device 140 includes otherapplications 144 as may be desired in particular embodiments to providefeatures to transportation device 140. For example, other applications144 may include security applications for implementing client-sidesecurity features, programmatic client applications for interfacing withappropriate application programming interfaces (APIs) over network 150,or other types of applications. Other applications 144 may includedevice interfaces and other display modules that may receive input froman administrator for the transportation service associated withtransportation device 140 and/or output information to theadministrator. For example, other applications 144 may contain softwareprograms, executable by a processor, including a graphical userinterface (GUI) configured to provide an interface to the administrator.

Transportation device 140 may further include database 146 stored to atransitory and/or non-transitory memory of transportation device 140,which may store various applications and data and be utilized duringexecution of various modules of transportation device 140. Thus,database 146 may include, for example, identifiers such as operatingsystem registry entries, cookies associated with transportation routemodule 142 and/or other applications 144, identifiers associated withhardware of transportation device 140, or other appropriate identifiers,such as identifiers used for payment/user/device authentication oridentification. Database 146 may include scheduling information, travelroute information, calendaring information, personal information,purchase travel fare on a transportation service, and/or previous usagehistories of one or more transportation service. Furthermore, database146 may further include received information from transportation server130, for example, locations and/or maps to transportation serviceswithin transportation terminal 120 or a nearby transportation terminal,time for arrival of transportation services, and/or transportationservices information (e.g., name, number, etc.).

Transportation device 140 includes at least one communication module 148adapted to communicate with user device 110, wireless beacons 122,and/or transportation server 130. In various embodiments, communicationmodule 148 may include a DSL (e.g., Digital Subscriber Line) modem, aPSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) modem, an Ethernet device, abroadband device, a satellite device and/or various other types of wiredand/or wireless network communication devices including microwave, radiofrequency, infrared, Bluetooth, and near field communication devices.Communication module 148 may communicate directly with wireless beacons122 and/or transportation server 130 using short range communications,such as Bluetooth Low Energy, LTE Direct, WiFi, radio frequency,infrared, Bluetooth, and near field communications.

Network 150 may be implemented as a single network or a combination ofmultiple networks. For example, in various embodiments, network 150 mayinclude the Internet or one or more intranets, landline networks,wireless networks, and/or other appropriate types of networks. Thus,network 150 may correspond to small scale communication networks, suchas a private or local area network, or a larger scale network, such as awide area network or the Internet, accessible by the various componentsof system 100.

FIG. 2 is an exemplary environment having a wireless beacon device at atransportation terminal for use in alerting transportation services ofusers wishing to utilize the transportation services, according to anembodiment. Environment 200 of FIG. 2 includes a user 202 a having auser device 210 a and a user 20 b having a user device 210 b bothcorresponding generally to user 102 and user device 110, respectively,of FIG. 1. Environment 200 also includes a transportation terminal 220and a wireless beacon 222 corresponding generally to transportationterminal 120 and wireless beacon 122, respectively, of FIG. 1.

In environment 200, a transportation service 270 a and a transportationservice 270 b are located on a street 262 travelling along a travelroute between two or more locations. For example, transportation service270 a may travel between transportation terminal 220 and a firstendpoint, while transportation service 270 b may travel betweentransportation terminal 220 and the first endpoint and/or a secondendpoint. In environment 200, transportation service 270 a is currentlylocated at transportation terminal 220 and awaiting passengers to boardthe transportation service. User 202 a is located at transportationterminal 220 and is in possession of user device 210 a. As previouslydiscussed, user device 210 a may connect with wireless beacon 222located at transportation terminal 220 and transmit information from theconnection to a device or server associated with transportation service270 a for processing. The device/server may have previously alerted oris presently alerting transportation service 270 a that user 202 a is attransportation terminal 220 and requires transportation. Thus,transportation service 270 a may stop and wait at transportationterminal 220 in order to provide transportation to transportationservice 270 a.

Additionally, user 202 b is shown approaching transportation terminal220 from sidewalk 260. User 202 b is in possession of user device 210 bas user 202 b approaches transportation terminal 220. User device 210 bmay similarly connect to wireless beacon 222 so that a device/serverassociated with transportation terminal 220 and/or transportationservice 270 a may determine that user 202 b is in proximity totransportation terminal 220. Since user 202 b is approaching but notquite at transportation terminal 220, transportation service 270 a maybe alerted/notified to wait at transportation terminal 220 for user 202b. However, if transportation service 270 a cannot wait for user 202 bor is at maximum capacity, user 202 b may be informed through userdevice 210 b. User device 210 b may further display nearbytransportation terminals or may display a wait time for transportationservice 270 b that is approaching transportation terminal 220, includingwhen transportation service 270 b is running ahead or behind scheduleand an estimated time of arrival. If transportation service 270 b alsomatches the required route by user 202 b, transportation service 270 bmay be notified to stop at transportation terminal 220 in order toprovide transportation to user 202 b when user 202 b arrives attransportation terminal 220. However, if transportation service 270 bdoes not provide the required travel route by user 202 b, user 202 b maybe given further options (e.g., a wait time for transportation service270 a to return) through user device 210 b.

Of course, a plurality of wireless beacons at a plurality of differenttransportation terminals may be utilized to optimize a travel systemthat incorporates transportation service 270 a, transportation service270 b, and/or other transportation service. For example, transportationservice 270 a may pick up one or more passengers (e.g., user 202 aand/or user 202 b) that are travelling to a first stop location attransportation terminal 220. The stop location may be designated by suchpassengers when arriving at transportation terminal 220 or through anitinerary or purchased fare by the passengers. Transportation service270 a may pick up all passengers travelling to the first stop locationso that when transportation service 270 b arrives at transportationterminal 220, transportation service 270 b is not required to make astop at the first stop location. Instead, transportation service 270 bmay pick up all passengers travelling to a second stop location. Suchpassengers travelling to the second stop location may be alerted thattransportation service 270 b is travelling to the second stop locationand thus wait for transportation service 270 b and bypass transportationservice 270 a since transportation service 270 a will be stopping at thefirst stop location. This further allows transportation service 270 a toskip the second stop location.

FIG. 3 is an exemplary system environment having a transportation serverreceiving an alert that a user device has connected to a wireless beaconat a transportation terminal and alerting a transportation service'sdevice that a user may wish to utilize the transportation service at thetransportation terminal, according to an embodiment. Environment 300 ofFIG. 3 includes a user device 310, a transportation server 330, and atransportation device 340 corresponding generally to user device 110,transportation server 130, and transportation device 340, respectively,of FIG. 1.

User device 310 executes a check-in module 312 corresponding generallyto the specialized hardware and/or software modules and processesdescribed in reference to check-in module 112 of FIG. 1. Check-in module312 accesses and/or stores a user A identifier 1000 that may be utilizedin established a connection and/or check-in information for user device310. As previously discussed, check-in module 312 may be utilized toestablish connections with one or more wireless beacons. In this regard,user A identifier 1000 may be transmitted to the beacon(s), and check-inmodule 312 may cause user device 310 to form a connection with thebeacon(s). Once connected, check-in module 312 may track connectedbeacons 1002. Further check-in module 312 may access, such as throughreceiving from an API of another application or module, retrieving froma non-transitory memory of user device 310, and/or scraping from one ormore resources, information about user A associated with user device310. Such information may include travel information 1004, includingpurchased fare 1004 for a transportation service and/or route, aschedule 1008 for user A (e.g., a calendar), and past usage 1010 oftransportation services, terminals, and/or routes.

Transportation server 330 may receive user A identifier 1000 as well astravel information 1004 from the beacon(s) in connected beacons 1002.Transportation server 330 executes a terminal information processingmodule 322 corresponding generally to the specialized hardware and/orsoftware modules and processes described in reference to terminalinformation processing module 132 of FIG. 1. Terminal informationprocessing module 322 may be utilized to alert one or moretransportation services of user A's required use at a transportationterminal. Thus, terminal information processing module 322 receives userA identifier 1000 and logs the identifier under connected users 1100.Connected users 1100 may further include other identifiers associatedwith other users having communication devices connected to one or morewireless beacons. Connected users 1100 includes user A identifier 1000with associated information corresponding to the one or more wirelessbeacons connected to user device 310 and/or retrieved from user device310. For example user A identifier 1000 is associated with a terminal1102 for the connected wireless beacon, nearby transportation 1104 withwait times 1106 determined from transportation services information,travel information 1004 having a desired route 1108 and suggestedterminals 1012 determined from information pulled from user device 110(e.g., travel information 1004), and nearby terminals 1110 determinedfrom a map or location information. The aforementioned information maybe utilized to determine notifications/alerts sent to flag atransportation service to assist user A associated with user device 310and/or alert user A through user device 310 of current transportationservices occupancy, travel routes, and/or wait times.

The information under user A identifier 1000 may be determined usingtransportation services information, which may include travel, vehicleof travel, and/or terminal location information. Thus, transportationservices information may include terminal information 1112 for one ormore terminals serviced by a transportation service. Terminalinformation 1112 includes available routes 1114 and usage information1116. Further transportation services information may includetransportation 1118, for example, information associated with one ormore transportation services. Transportation 1118 includestransportation A identifier 1120 for identifying a specifictransportation service, as well associated information withtransportation A, such as serving terminals 1122 and users at terminals1124.

Notifications to alert a transportation service of user A's requiredusage may be sent to transportation device 340 associated with thetransportation service. Transportation device 340 executes atransportation route module 342 corresponding generally to thespecialized hardware and/or software modules and processes described inreference to transportation route module 142 of FIG. 1. Transportationroute module 342 map therefore display the notifications so that adriver, conductor, or other administrator may pick up user A at adesignated transportation terminal. In this regard, transportation routemodule 342 includes upcoming terminal 1200 having users at terminal1202, which may include user A as well as other users that may requireusage of the transportation service. Transportation route module 342 mayalso display the transportation terminals and/or the users requiringusage of the transportation terminal on map 1204.

As previously discussed, terminal information processing application 332may also send notifications to user device 310 about statuses oftransportation service(s) and/or transportation terminal(s) In thisregard, check-in module 312 may also receive suggested terminals 1012for user A and/or wait times 1014 for one or more transportationservices. Check-in module 312 may utilize one or more output interfacesto communicate the information to user A.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of an exemplary process for wireless beacondevices for use in managing transportation service terminals, accordingto an embodiment. Note that one or more steps, processes, and methodsdescribed herein may be omitted, performed in a different sequence, orcombined as desired or appropriate, as well as be performed by differentmodules, entities, components, or systems.

At step 402, an information processing module, executed by at least onehardware processor, accesses check-in information stored to a databasein a non-transitory memory, wherein the check-in information comprises afirst connection between a communication device for a user and a firstwireless beacon at a transportation terminal in proximity to the user.The check-in information may instead be or include a communicationdevice identifier and/or connection information about the firstconnection. The first connection may utilize one of near fieldcommunication, radio communication, infrared communication, Bluetoothcommunication, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) communication, WiFicommunication, and LTE Direct communication.

The information processing module accesses information for atransportation service serving the transportation terminal from thedatabase, at step 404. At step 406, the information processing moduledetermines that the user will utilize the transportation service, forexample using the information for the transportation service and/or thecheck-in information. The transportation service may comprise one of abus, a train, a subway, a car service, a taxi service, a boat service,and a shuttle service, and wherein the first device comprises a firstdevice attached to first transportation service for displaying the firstcommunication to a second user associated with the first transportationservice. It may also be determined that the user will utilize thetransportation service using a length of time for the connection betweenthe communication device and the first wireless beacon.

At step 408, a communication module of the server device communicates analert to the transportation service that the user will utilize thetransportation service at the transportation terminal. Thetransportation service may also receive personal information and/orpayment/fare information for the user received from communicationdevice, for example, using the wireless beacon connection. Moreover,additional users may arrive at the transportation terminal so that theircommunication devices connected to the wireless beacon. As describedabove, the alert may include the number of users at the transportationterminal, as well as a number of users at other transportationterminals, using communication device and wireless beacon connections.Such information may be displayed on a map on a device for thetransportation service.

In various embodiments, the user may receive information about thearrival of the transportation service, such as a wait time and/oridentification information for the transportation service. Theinformation processing module may also determine on or more othertransportation services serving the transportation terminal and alertthe transportation services of the users at the transportation terminalFor example, the first transportation service may communicate annotification that the transportation service is at or reaching a maximumcapacity/occupancy. Thus, a second transportation service may berequired at the transportation terminal. In such an embodiment, the usermay also be alerted of the status of the first transportation providerso that they may determine whether to utilize the second transportationprovider or another transportation terminal. The user may also determinethat the first transportation service is not required by the user, andmay instead select a second transportation service to flag at thetransportation terminal.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a computer system suitable for implementingone or more components in FIG. 1, according to an embodiment. In variousembodiments, the user device may comprise a personal computing device(e.g., smart phone, a computing tablet, a personal computer, laptop, awearable computing device such as glasses or a watch, Bluetooth device,key FOB, badge, etc.) capable of communicating with the network. Theservice provider may utilize a network computing device (e.g., a networkserver) capable of communicating with the network. It should beappreciated that each of the devices utilized by users and serviceproviders may be implemented as computer system 500 in a manner asfollows.

Computer system 500 includes a bus 502 or other communication mechanismfor communicating information data, signals, and information betweenvarious components of computer system 500. Components include aninput/output (I/O) component 504 that processes a user action, such asselecting keys from a keypad/keyboard, selecting one or more buttons,image, or links, and/or moving one or more images, etc., and sends acorresponding signal to bus 502. I/O component 504 may also include anoutput component, such as a display 511 and a cursor control 513 (suchas a keyboard, keypad, mouse, etc.). An optional audio input/outputcomponent 505 may also be included to allow a user to use voice forinputting information by converting audio signals. Audio I/O component505 may allow the user to hear audio. A transceiver or network interface506 transmits and receives signals between computer system 500 and otherdevices, such as another user device, service device, or a serviceprovider server via network 150. In one embodiment, the transmission iswireless, although other transmission mediums and methods may also besuitable. One or more processors 512, which can be a micro-controller,digital signal processor (DSP), or other processing component, processesthese various signals, such as for display on computer system 500 ortransmission to other devices via a communication link 518. Processor(s)512 may also control transmission of information, such as cookies or IPaddresses, to other devices.

Components of computer system 500 also include a system memory component514 (e.g., RAM), a static storage component 516 (e.g., ROM), and/or adisk drive 517. Computer system 500 performs specific operations byprocessor(s) 512 and other components by executing one or more sequencesof instructions contained in system memory component 514. Logic may beencoded in a computer readable medium, which may refer to any mediumthat participates in providing instructions to processor(s) 512 forexecution. Such a medium may take many forms, including but not limitedto, non-volatile media, volatile media, and transmission media. Invarious embodiments, non-volatile media includes optical or magneticdisks, volatile media includes dynamic memory, such as system memorycomponent 514, and transmission media includes coaxial cables, copperwire, and fiber optics, including wires that comprise bus 502. In oneembodiment, the logic is encoded in non-transitory computer readablemedium. In one example, transmission media may take the form of acousticor light waves, such as those generated during radio wave, optical, andinfrared data communications.

Some common forms of computer readable media includes, for example,floppy disk, flexible disk, hard disk, magnetic tape, any other magneticmedium, CD-ROM, any other optical medium, punch cards, paper tape, anyother physical medium with patterns of holes, RAM, PROM, EEPROM,FLASH-EEPROM, any other memory chip or cartridge, or any other mediumfrom which a computer is adapted to read.

In various embodiments of the present disclosure, execution ofinstruction sequences to practice the present disclosure may beperformed by computer system 500. In various other embodiments of thepresent disclosure, a plurality of computer systems 500 coupled bycommunication link 518 to the network (e.g., such as a LAN, WLAN, PTSN,and/or various other wired or wireless networks, includingtelecommunications, mobile, and cellular phone networks) may performinstruction sequences to practice the present disclosure in coordinationwith one another.

Where applicable, various embodiments provided by the present disclosuremay be implemented using hardware, software, or combinations of hardwareand software. Also, where applicable, the various hardware componentsand/or software components set forth herein may be combined intocomposite components comprising software, hardware, and/or both withoutdeparting from the spirit of the present disclosure. Where applicable,the various hardware components and/or software components set forthherein may be separated into sub-components comprising software,hardware, or both without departing from the scope of the presentdisclosure. In addition, where applicable, it is contemplated thatsoftware components may be implemented as hardware components andvice-versa.

Software, in accordance with the present disclosure, such as programcode and/or data, may be stored on one or more computer readablemediums. It is also contemplated that software identified herein may beimplemented using one or more general purpose or specific purposecomputers and/or computer systems, networked and/or otherwise. Whereapplicable, the ordering of various steps described herein may bechanged, combined into composite steps, and/or separated into sub-stepsto provide features described herein.

The foregoing disclosure is not intended to limit the present disclosureto the precise forms or particular fields of use disclosed. As such, itis contemplated that various alternate embodiments and/or modificationsto the present disclosure, whether explicitly described or impliedherein, are possible in light of the disclosure. Having thus describedembodiments of the present disclosure, persons of ordinary skill in theart will recognize that changes may be made in Ruin and detail withoutdeparting from the scope of the present disclosure. Thus, the presentdisclosure is limited only by the claims.

1. (canceled)
 2. A system comprising: one or more computer-readablememories storing program instructions; and one or more processorsconfigured to execute the program instructions to cause the system toperform operations comprising: detecting reception of a firstcommunication device identifier for a first communication device by afirst beacon device of a plurality of beacon devices associated with afirst transportation terminal, wherein the first communicationidentifier is received by the first beacon device via a firstconnection; detecting reception of the first communication deviceidentifier by a second beacon device of the plurality of beacon devices,wherein the first communication device identifier is received by thesecond beacon device via a second connection, established after thefirst connection, and wherein the second wireless beacon is locatedwithin the first transportation terminal; and in response to thedetecting the reception of the first communication device identifier bythe second beacon device, automatically performing a check-in of thefirst communication device with a first transportation serviceassociated with the first transportation terminal.
 3. The system ofclaim 2, wherein the automatically performing the check-in of the firstcommunication device includes determining the first transportationservice from a plurality of transportation services associated with thefirst transportation terminal based on information associated with auser of the first communication device.
 4. The system of claim 3,wherein the information associated with the user of the firstcommunication device includes a schedule or calendar associated with theuser of the first communication device.
 5. The system of claim 3,wherein the information associated with the user of the firstcommunication device includes historical travel information associatedwith the user of the first communication device or informationidentifying a travel fare purchased by the user of the firstcommunication device.
 6. The system of claim 2, wherein the first beacondevice is located in a location that is different from the firsttransportation terminal.
 7. The system of claim 2, wherein theautomatically performing the check-in of the first communication deviceincludes transmitting a notification to a server of the firsttransportation service that includes identification information of auser of the first communication device and travel information associatedwith the user of the first communication device.
 8. The system of claim2, wherein the automatically performing the check-in of the firstcommunication device includes determining that the first communicationdevice is located within a threshold distance of the second beacondevice for an amount of time that exceeds a threshold amount of time. 9.The system of claim 2, wherein the automatically performing the check-inof the first communication device includes accessing one or moreapplications of the first communication device in order to identify andretrieve user information associated with a user of the firstcommunication device.
 10. The system of claim 9, wherein the userinformation associated with the user of the first communication deviceincludes identification information or information describingtransportation preferences.
 11. A method comprising: detecting receptionof a first communication device identifier for a first communicationdevice by a first beacon device of a plurality of beacon devices,wherein the first communication identifier is received by the firstbeacon device via a first connection; detecting reception of the firstcommunication device identifier by a second beacon device of theplurality of beacon devices, wherein the first communication deviceidentifier is received by the second beacon device via a secondconnection, established after the first connection, wherein the secondbeacon device is located in a location that is different from the firstbeacon device; and in response to the detecting the reception of thefirst communication device identifier by the second beacon device,automatically identifying a first transportation service from aplurality of transportation services based on information associatedwith a user of the first communication device, and automaticallyperforming a check-in of the first communication device with the firsttransportation service.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein theinformation associated with the user of the first communication deviceincludes historical travel information associated with the user of thefirst communication device.
 13. The method of claim 11, wherein theinformation associated with the user of the first communication deviceincludes a schedule or calendar associated with the user of the firstcommunication device.
 14. The method of claim 11, wherein theautomatically performing the check-in of the first communication deviceincludes transmitting a notification to a server of the firsttransportation service that includes personal information of the user ofthe first communication device and travel information associated withthe user of the first communication device.
 15. The method of claim 11,wherein the automatically performing the check-in of the firstcommunication device further includes determining that the firstcommunication device is located within a threshold distance of thesecond beacon device for an amount of time that exceeds a thresholdamount of time.
 16. The method of claim 11, wherein the automaticallyperforming the check-in of the first communication device includesaccessing one or more applications of the first communication device inorder to identify and retrieve information describing transportationpreferences associated with the user of the first communication device.17. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing programinstructions, the program instructions when executed cause a machine toperform operations comprising: detecting reception of a firstcommunication device identifier for a first communication device by afirst beacon device of a plurality of beacon devices associated with afirst transportation terminal, wherein the first communicationidentifier is received by the first beacon device via a firstconnection; detecting reception of the first communication deviceidentifier by a second beacon device of the plurality of beacon devices,wherein the first communication device identifier is received by thesecond beacon device via a second connection, established after thefirst connection, and wherein the second wireless beacon is locatedwithin the first transportation terminal; and in response to thedetecting the reception of the first communication device identifier bythe second beacon device, automatically performing a check-in of thefirst communication device with a first transportation serviceassociated with the first transportation terminal.
 18. Thenon-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein theautomatically performing the check-in of the first communication deviceincludes transmitting a notification to a server of the firsttransportation service that includes personal information of a user ofthe first communication device and travel information associated withthe user of the first communication device.
 19. The non-transitorycomputer readable medium of claim 18, wherein the automaticallyperforming the check-in of the first communication device furtherincludes determining that the first communication device is locatedwithin a threshold distance of the second beacon device for an amount oftime that exceeds a threshold amount of time.
 20. The non-transitorycomputer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the automaticallyperforming the check-in of the first communication device includesaccessing one or more applications of the first communication device inorder to identify and retrieve information describing transportationpreferences associated with a user of the first communication device.21. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein theautomatically performing the check-in of the first communication deviceincludes communicating with a second transportation service anddetermining that the second transportation service does not havecapacity for a user of the first communication device, wherein a travelpreference associated with the user of the first communication deviceprioritizes the second transportation service above the firsttransportation service.